Track for model railroads



March 1, 1955 R. L. MILLER 2,703,204

TRACK FOR MODELRAILROADS Filed Feb. 18, 1949 I INVENTOR.

FUBERT L MILLER ATTO NEY United States Patent TRACK FOR MODEL RAILROADS Robert Miller, Valparaiso, Ind.

Application February 18, 1949, Serial No. 77,156

7 Claims. (Cl. 238-10) This invention relates generally to amusement devices and more particularly is directed to track assemblies for toy or model railroads.

One of the principal objects of the invention is to provide a track assembly embodying improved principles of design and construction.

A particular object of the invention is to provide a track assembly comprised of a minimum number of parts or components, and in which a plurality of crossties are moulded, preferably from a plastic of insulating material, and united together by bridging or connecting portions to constitute integral rail supporting assemblies or sections of appropriate length adapted to be detachably connected together by the rails to effect continuity of the assembly.

An important object of the invention is to design and construct the crossties so that portions thereof, such as the side walls, are made resilient to permit curving or shaping of the track assembly, within practicable limits, to any condition desired.

vAnother significant object of the invention is to pro vide the ties with rail supporting rests, spaced abutments and resilient fastening means of a character whereby the rails may be slid between the abutments and automatically held in place on the rests by the fastening means. This arrangement facilitates assembly of the track components, enables accurate gauging between the rails, and thereby makes track laying a pleasant and easy job.

A further object of the invention is to provide improved means for spacing the end crosstie of one rail supporting section or assembly with the end crosstie of an adjacent section, and so that said means, including the bridging portions uniting the ties are concealed when the track assembly is viewed from the top.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a track assembly which may be easily and quickly anchored in various ways to a mounting, such as a platform of plywood.

Further objects of the invention are to provide a track assembly which is very durable, eflicient in use, and particularly quiet when a train is driven along the rails, the rail supporting sections or strips being constructed and arranged to absorb or dampen most vibration and nolse encountered.

Many other objects and advantages of the mvention will become apparent after the description hereinafter set forth is considered in conjunction with the drawings annexed hereto.

Referring to the drawings wherein a preferred form of track assembly embodying the invention is illustrated:

Figure 1 is an isometric view illustrating a part of a rail supporting assembly or section and a rail carried thereby;

Figure 2 is top view of a part of a rail supporting as sembly or section exemplifying the manner in WhlCll 1t may be flexed to a curved or abnormal condition;

Figure 3 is an enlarged transverse sectional VIEW taken substantially on line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is 'an enlarged transverse sectional view taken substantially on line 4-4 of Figure 1; a

Figure 5 is a sectional view illustrating one of many types of means which may be employed to advantage in anchoring the track assembly in place relative to a mountmg.

Figure 6 is an enlarged view taken substantially on line 66 of Figure 1;

Figure 7 is an'enlarged sectional view taken substantially on line 7-7 of Figure 2 illustrating the expanded position the outer extremities of the side walls of the crossties will take or assume when the track assembly is manipulated to a curved condition; and

Figure 8 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially on line 88 of Figure 2, illustrating the contracted position the inner extremities of the side walls of the ties wi 1(l1 assume when the track assembly is curved as aforesai As clearly exemplified in the drawings, the rail supporting means constituting one component of the complete track assembly includes, among other things, a plurality of crossties 1 united by bridging or connecting portions 2 to form normally straight assemblies, sections or strips which are adapted to be detachably connected together by a pair of rails, constituting other components of the assembly. The rail supporting assemblies are preferably moulded from some desirable plastic having insulating properties, and may be made in various standard lengths, but as now being currently manufactured are approximately six inches for convenience in handling. The complete track assembly is designed and constructed to simulate that of a regular railroad, and the plastic may be of a color to promote this objective.

The cross ties are identical in character, and each is preferably of hollow channel construction and formed to include a top horizontal rail supporting wall 3, vertical side walls 4, and end walls 5, the design and construction being such that the side walls are made sufficiently resilient to permit relative movement therebetween. More particularly in this respect, the side walls of each tie may be moved away or toward each other as shown in Figures 7 and 8 when the track assembly is laid in a curved or abnormal condition. The crossties may be joined together by the bridging or connecting portions 2 in any manner desired, but as illustrated herein, the side wall of one tie is joined to the opposed side wall of an adjacent tie by a pair of such portions, and so on. The bridging portions are parallel and preferably connected to the lower edges of the side walls and equidistant from the ends of the ties to place-such portions under and below the rails for concealment when the track assembly is viewed from above. When the complete track assembly is properly anchored or secured to the upper surface of a platform or other mounting, the bridging portions 2 and lower marginal edges of the side and end walls of each tie will rest upon or engage such surface for stability. With this arrangement the crossties are actually resiliently connected together. It is to be understood that the invention contemplates the utilization of any kind of a rail supporting crosstie, provided such tie or a portion thereof may be bent or flexed as and for the purpose described above. Also, if found desirable, alternate ties of a section may be of solid construction so that only every other tie will have resilient properties.

One of the end ties of each rail supporting assembly or section is preferably provided with a pair of projections 6 of an appropriate length so that when the ends of the projections engage the side wall of the end tie of an adjacent assembly, the spacing between the end ties of the assemblies will substantially correspond to the spacing between the remaining ties of each assembly. With this unique spacing arrangement interruptions are practically avoided and continuity of the rail supporting assemblies is achieved.

The top wall 3 of each crosstie is also provided with a pair of generally rectangular or oblong apertures 7. A flat raised rail resting portion 8 extends along the 10ngitudinal marginal edge defining each aperture, and an abutment 9 is formed adjacent the transverse marginal edge of the aperture. The rest portions 8 are arranged in spaced apart relation and extend lengthwise of the tie while the abutments 9 run substantially in a direction.

corresponding to that of the bridging portions 2 and rails, thereby simulating the tie plates used in the construction of standard railway track. It will be noted that the abutments are of greater height than the rest portions and that their inner surfaces 10 are straight and parallel as depicted in Figures 3 and 4 so as to receive the flange 11 of a rail 12 therebetween. In other words, the spacing between the inner surfaces 10 is slightly greater than the width of the rail flange in order to readily accommodate the latter.

As indicated above, one of the important objects of the invention is to provide improved fastening means for detachably securing the rails to the rail supporting assemblies or sections. This is preferably accomplished by forming resilient fingers or lugs 13 simulating spikes adjacent the upper extremities of the abutments. These fingers are aligned and extend normally inwardly toward each other in substantially the same plane, as illustrated.

in Figure 3, for engaging the upper inclined surfaces of the rail flange as exemplified in Figure 4. The spacing between the fingers is sufiicient to provide clearance for passage of the web 14 of the rail. it will be noted that the under surfaces of the locking fingers 13 are planar as indicated at 15 and that the vertical distance between the flat rests 8 and said planar surfaces is predetermined and slightly less than the thickness of the rail flange, so that when the flange is slid across the rests and between the abutments, the fingers 13 will cam or bend upwardly under stress, as shown in Figure 4, and thereby resiliently hold and maintain the rail erect for use. The end extremities of the ties are inclined to flex or yield to a greater extent than at their center, this being due in part to the provision of the apertures 7 which tend to impart and control, within practicable limits, the range of flexation.

When a plurality of normally straight and flat track assemblies are operatively connected end to end by sliding the rails into locking position, one or more of such assemblies may be forcibly shaped to assume a curved condition within its plane as exemplified in Figure 2. When thus curved, the inner extremities of the normally parallel side walls of the ties will contract or move toward each other as shown in Figure 8 and the walls at their outer extremities will expand or spread apart as shown in Figure 7. The track assembly may also be shaped to accommodate blanked curves and other variations in the contour of the road bed or mounting.

Any suitable means may be used to anchor or secure the track assembly to a mounting, but as illustrated in Figure 5, fasteners such as 16 may be hooked over the ties or bridging portions at appropriate locations for this purpose. Brads have also been driven through the ties to secure the track assembly in proper place as well as adhesive means of attachment.

In view of the foregoing description it will be manifest that the ties embody improved principles of design and construction, including means whereby the rails are electrically insulated and resiliently held in operative positions. It is also apparent that a unique method is employed whereby a plurality of track supporting assemblies may be readily connected together.

Having thus described my invention, it is obvious that various immaterial modifications may be made in the same without departing from the spirit of my invention; hence I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the exact form, construction, arrangement and combination of parts herein shown and described or uses mentioned.

I claim:

1. An elongated hollow first tie for supporting a rail, said tie comprising a top wall and a pair of substantially parallel resilient side walls having lower longitudinal marginal free edge portions for engaging a mounting for the tie, means for detachably holding a rail on the top wall, a second tie corresponding to the first tie, and a pair of bridge means disposed transversely of the ties and joining the marginal free edge portions of opposed side walls of the ties for the purpose described whereby the joined side walls will flex when the ties are moved with respect to one another.

2. An elongated hollow first tie for supporting a rail, said tie comprising a top wall and a pair of substantially parallel resilient side walls. having lower longitudinal marginal free edge portions for engaging a mounting for the tie, raised abutment means provided on the top wall, means for detachably holding a rail on the abutment means, a second tie corresponding to the first tie, and a pair of flat bridge means disposed transversely of the ties and joining the marginal free edge portions of opposed side walls of the ties for the purpose described whereby the joined side walls will flex when the ties are moved with respect to one another.

3. A pair of elongated hollow ties for supporting a rail, each of said ties having a top wall and a pair of substantially parallel resiliently flexible side walls, means for holding a rail on the ties, and a pair of spaced narrow bridge means joining one of the side walls of one tie with the opposed side wall of the other tie for normally maintaining the ties in spaced apart parallel relationship, the arrangement being such that the walls may be caused to flex a greater extent adjacent the points of connection between the bridge means and walls when the ties are moved out of parallel relationship.

4. An elongated hollow first tie for supporting a rail, said tie comprising a top wall and a pair of substantially parallel resilient side walls having lower longitudinal marginal edge portions for engaging a mounting for the tie, means for holding a rail on the top wall of said tie; a second tie substantially corresponding to the first tie, and a pair of bridge means disposed transversely of the ties and joining opposed side walls of the ties whereby one or both of the joined walls will flex when the ties are moved relative to one another.

5. A pair of ties for supporting a rail, each of said ties comprising an inverted channel having a top wall and a pair of substantially parallel resiliently flexible side walls, means for holding a rail on the ties, and a pair of spaced narrow bridge means joining one of the side walls of one tie with the opposed side wall of the other tie for normally maintaining the ties in a predetermined spaced apart relationship, the arrangement being such that one or both of the walls may be caused to flex a greater extent adjacent the locations of joinder between the bridge means and the walls when the ties are moved out of said predetermined relationship.

6. An elongated hollow first tie for supporting a rail, said tie comprising a top wall, a pair of substantially parallel resilient side walls, and end walls, raised abutment means provided on the top wall, means for holding a rail on the abutment means, a second tie having a top wall, a pair of substantially parallel resilient side walls, and end walls, and a pair of bridge means disposed transversely of the ties and joining the side wall of one tie with the opposed side wall of the second tie for maintaining the ties in a predetermined spaced relationship, the arrangement being such that one or both of the joined side walls will be caused to flex when the ties are moved out of said predetermined relationship.

7. An elongated hollow first tie for supporting a rail, said tie comprising a top wall and a pair of substantially parallel resiliently flexible side walls having lower longitudinal marginal edge portions for engaging a mounting for the tie, a second tie corresponding to the first tie, and a pair of bridge means disposed transversely of the ties and joining a side wall of the first tie with an opposed side wall of the second tie in a manner whereby one or both of the joined walls will flex adjacent the locations of jtiinder when the ties are moved with respect to one anot er.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,669,257 Lund'ahl May '8, 1928 1,783,367 Peterson, Jr Dec. 2, 1930 2,028,401 Lore Jan. 21, 1936 2,188,894 Tyler Jan. 30, 1940 2,405,533 Varney Aug. 6, 1946 2,562,623 Levering July 31, 1951 2,637,501 Joyce May 5, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 937,819 France Mar. 22, 1948 588,775 Great Britain June 3, '1947 629,148 Great Britain 'Sept. 13, 1949 

